opinion
By Mike Ebonugwo
Just like a captivating movie. That is how a visibly impressed, and indeed overjoyed, guest described the Vanguard Personality of the Year Awards 2015 which held Friday night at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos. The likening of the event to a potentially box office hit movie was quite apt. And why not? It flowed from beginning to the end like a well-scripted movie boasting an engaging story line, impressive plot treatment, proper sequencing and creatively directed by a master of the art. A great credit to the organisers.
Indeed, it came across as a big and impressive show that did not fail to elicit rapturous effusion of praises from most of those who attended it. First, was the grand layout of the event venue that sparkled and glowed with colour and glamour.
This was complemented by the carnival-like atmosphere created by the impressively attired participants, especially the guests who more or less represented a roll-call of who is who in the media, in politics and governance, business and industry, entertainment, including Nollywood, music industry and the rapidly expanding world of comedy.
Indeed, fashion was in full expression, with the men strutting around in sartorial elegance while the younger of the women cat-walked and swayed seductively in their skimpy and flamboyant wears as they made a bold statement that world of fashion is theirs to conquer.
Cultural troupes
For the older women, maturity demanded that fashion is expressed with elegant poise.
The arrival of the awardees was not without its own fanfare. Some of them came accompanied by cultural troupes whose drumming, singing and dancing lent a festive air to the entire programme. Among these praise-singing cultural groups were two Igbo cultural dance troupes, the Ugonabo Umuoji and the Obieziokwu.
The former came with some masquerades in tow and drew a large crowd of curious onlookers during its performance. The latter which was an all-women group led by Mrs Ndidi Acholonu came at the instance of High Chief John Nwosu, the Eze Ndigbo of Mushin, Lagos, aka Obieziokwu 1 of Mushin to lend support to Second Republic Vice President, Dr Alex Ekwueme, who was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
According to Mrs Acholonu, the dance troupe was on hand to join Vanguard to celebrate an icon, one who has contributed immensely to the development of Igboland and Nigeria in general.
Inside the hall, a musical group, the Sharp Band, entertained the audience with some popular hit tracks of yesteryears. Soon enough the event took off rather smoothly with the comperes confidently on the driving seat. One of them, Helen Paul aka Tatafo, did not waste time in displaying her comedy signature of speaking in a mimicry of a naïve eight or ten-year-old girl.
Her trade mark comical pitch was considered necessary for a ceremony that had on parade as award recipients some of the most celebrated and influential personalities in politics, governance and the corporate world. At least to dilute the boredom of long-drawn speeches which fortunately was not the case during the event. Indeed, Tatafo lived up to her billing in this regard as she theatrically engaged her partner in comical arguments or disagreements about the night’s proceedings.
The laughter her theatrics engendered soon heightened when ace stand up comedian, Kofi, was invited on stage. He was soon in his elements as he made rib-cracking jokes of the lingering fuel scarcity in the country among other developments of national concern.
The musical interludes, with different musicians performing, also accentuated the dramatic relief which the audience so much craved. Performances by Harry Song, Kycee, Olumide and home boy, Finest were loudly applauded.
Perhaps more so was Olumide’s moving rendition of Doris Day’s famous number, Que Sera Sera which obviously appealed to the gathering like a cherished anthem as many of them sang enthusiastically along while the performance lasted.
Juicy meat of the feast
The cultural dance groups also took their turns to perform, especially when some of the award recipients were called out to be honoured. They also clearly left their mark in the hearts of members of the audience who enthusiastically applauded their efforts.
But even as the audience savoured the performances and basked in the entertainment they offered, all knew that the presentation of the awards remained the juicy meat of the feast. And they did not have long to wait for this.
It all began with former Ogun State governor, Olusegun Osoba being invited to present Senator David Dafinone with the Lifetime Achievement Award which was received by one of the famous accountant’s sons.
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